How to Prepare for Your Family Portrait Session
Below are some tips on how to prepare for your session - what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect during & after your session.
What to Expect
Let me do the work. You don’t have to worry about posing or anything of that sort. You just need to focus on being together and enjoying the company of your loved ones.
Everyone looks best when they are having fun, so let’s have a good time interacting together! We’ll be sure to get classic posed photos of everyone, but most of the session will be action-shot oriented. I will pose you and call out directions as I take photos, and we’ll move around the whole area you’ve selected for your session so you have a variety of backdrops.
Little kids like to run around and rarely sit still for more than 1-2 shots. I know this, and work with them accordingly. If your little one isn’t a fan of a certain pose or action I’ve suggested, that’s ok! I will still have gotten good photos out of it, and we’ll move on to something he or she might like better.
Babies
Babies are curious and learning about the world, so they look everywhere - including directly at the camera, and directly away from the camera. That’s ok! I know how to work around it, and we’ll set up poses or actions that will allow me to see his/her adorable little face!
Don’t fret if he or she doesn’t look at me the whole time - some couples get tense and start arguing because they feel like their baby is not cooperating, or one feels his/her spouse isn’t helping keep the baby looking at the camera. They wear themselves - and the little one - out from constantly calling out his/her name, when simply waiting a few extra seconds will do the trick.
Even when a baby cries during most of the session, I’ve still been able to get *lots* of beautiful photos from those little brief little moments when he or she stops crying and looks up at you with wonder or a smile.
Props
It’s always fun to bring along props! Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you and your children individually or as a family. For instance, I’ve had a family bring along a soccer ball for their two oldest children (8-11) who were on teams that year. Another family bought cotton candy and had fun eating it together. The list is endless!
Suggestions:
Favorite book, bikes, painting & drawing sets for your little artist, baseball mitts, favorite truck or doll, family heirloom (jewelry, toys, blankets, etc).
What to Wear to Your Family Portrait Session
Wear something you would dress in for a really nice dinner. You can also do a more casual look with jeans and a dress top.
I recommend sticking to solid colors (tiny patterns don't photograph well), and for women, using accessories like scarves or jewelry for accent pieces. Bold jewelry, scarves, and shoes photograph well!
Men
Think very nice dinner. That means no polos or t-shirts. Also avoid writing and logos, unless it’s your favorite shirt and there’s an inside joke about it that you both agree should be documented. :)
Please come clean shaven, if you don’t wear any facial hair. While I can easily remove any razor burn or cuts in post-production, removing stubble or a 5-o’clock shadow may need to be done by a retouching specialist.
Ladies
Don’t bring a purse, if you can help it. Unless it’s part of your props, or even your bag to carry your props in, you probably will not want to worry about where to set your purse as we walk around the location taking photos. You might want to bring a small lipgloss or lipstick with you, but most women I have worked with haven’t needed to touch up their makeup.
Most women I photograph choose to show off their beautiful locks - and I highly encourage this. To help you out the day of your photo session, try using a little hairspray on long bangs that might fall into your face from the side (don’t pile it on though, we want you looking natural!), or bring a backup hair tie in case there is some wind. Occasionally a slight breeze will blow hair in the way, but don’t worry, we’ll work around it and make sure your hair looks great in your photos.
Kids
If your daughter or granddaughter is wearing a dress, add on some tights or leggings. That way if she squirms or crawls around, and her little dress gets out of place, the photos are still useable. :)
Think Color Palettes.
Coordinate, don’t match. Choose colors that make you look alive and bring out the best in your features. If you are pale, stick to deep colors like navy, maroon, or forest green (not pale pink, white, etc).
Avoid having a single person in a contrasting outfit, meaning a very bright white or red shirt - they will stick out much brighter the rest of the group!
Try your clothes on first (everyone!) and double-check in the mirror. Look for any problem areas and choose outfits that flatter you from all sides. While bra straps, low-cut shirts, or logos can usually be edited out in Photoshop after your session, the extra work will delay your finished photographs, and may cost extra. Plus, you need to be comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing. If you love your clothes, you’ll be more relaxed and your photos will turn out even better!
What Kind of Photos Will We Take?
Classic family group portraits and unposed, candid full-family photos; group shots; just the kids; parent-kid groupings; close-ups and action shots; you name it!
I like to capture a wide range of photos so you have a variety to choose the images you love for your walls and sharing online. If you have a preference for classic or candid, just the kids, etc, let me know.
Getting to Your Photography Session
Please be on time! I’m a natural-light photographer, so the sun dictates how long I can photograph you. Please make proper considerations for traffic, hair delays, and kid emergencies! If you arrive 30 minutes late, the session is not extended, but, rather, ends at the regularly scheduled time. I want the BEST photography experience for you, and being on time achieves exactly this!
*Please note: Parking at the National Mall is difficult any time of year. If your session is taking place there, please plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early to your session to ensure you don’t spend session time finding parking and walking several blocks + across the Mall to our
meeting point. As a reminder, the metro also runs slower on weekends, usually scheduling trains 20 minutes apart. Please take this into consideration when traveling to the National Mall.
Pets
Can I bring my dog(s) to our family portrait session?
YES! Please do!
I always recommend bringing a friend along to watch over your pup while we take any photos of the whole family that don’t have your pet in them, or maybe while we are at a spot that doesn’t allow animals (like on the steps of a monument or museum).
Other
Family sessions are for...families!
“Quick Linkedin headshots" and all other shots not geared towards family will not be taken.
Why do Lincoln Photography family sessions only last 45 minutes?
Many photographers set family portrait sessions at 2-3 hours. Nearly a decade of experience photographing families of all sizes has taught me that this lengthy duration is not necessary and can prove counterproductive. Almost inevitably, children under the age of 10 lose interest, get tired, cry, or complain after 45 minutes. !
In the first 30-40 minutes that I am with a family, I am able to
capture a variety of poses, groups, and close ups with the
adorably dressed little ones. I spend a few extra minutes exploring fun and candid options and then the kids lose steam. I choose to stop my sessions there in order to provide you a better set of photos with less stress, and to save you money. I pride myself on high levels of customer satisfaction and I have found that my method produces the best results.
After Your Photo Session
After your session, it will take 1.5 - 2 weeks for your photos to be processed and uploaded. I’ll remove any photos with closed eyes, less flattering expressions. I’ll email you a link and password to access, view, and download your gallery.
Retouching includes sharpening, brightening, contrast adjustment, color correction, cropping if needed, and light blemish removal on close-ups only.
Your final retouched images will go into a downloadable high res gallery. Anyone with the link and password can download the photos and purchase prints. Prints are provided by one of the country’s leading professional printing companies, and ship directly to you!
